UKTI

UK Trade & Investment

is the lead UK Government organisation which helps businesses locate in the UK and grow internationally.

Interested in Business Opportunities Overseas?

UK Trade & Investment is the Government organisation that helps UK based companies succeed in international markets. It does this through an extensive network of dedicated Trade Development staff both within the UK and also at British Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates worldwide. It recognises that the UK construction industry is a vital Sector within the UK economy and that it is already very active in international markets. The industry currently provides export sales worth over £7bn; contributes around 8.2 percent of GVA and employs around 2.1 million people in Britain. UK contractors and consultants operate in almost every country throughout the world and enjoy a high reputation.

Opportunities exist for further growth internationally; British standards and codes are recognised worldwide and form the basis of governance in many construction industries around the world.

There is specialist support available for companies within the construction industry. UK Trade & Investment has a Construction Unit within its structure which is responsible for providing advice and support regarding International opportunities in roads, bridges, tunnels, dams, architecture (residential, commercial and industrial buildings), regeneration, building products and building services.

UKTI in the East Midlands has International Trade Advisers freely available to visit and guide companies on how they can tap into the vast array of support available to them to increase their sales overseas. Subsidised products and services are available to help companies research overseas markets, find potential customers, agents, distributors; gain international selling skills; identify opportunities overseas and help turn them into real business.

All UKTI commercial sections based around the world will have designated officers dealing in the construction sector and appointments can be arranged for East Midlands companies to meet with these officers when they visit the UK.

For further information on the range of services and events available to help construction companies become more international then contact:

Mike Warriner 07825 344 627 mike.warriner@uktiem.co.uk (Construction)
Thomas Schaal 07825 344 614 thomas.schaal@uktiem.co.uk (Service sector)
Michael Hope 07825 344646 michael.hope@uktiem.co.uk (Environment)
Christine Johnson 07825 344471 christine.johnson@uktiem.co.uk (Design)

For further information on our services and “what’s on” in the East Midlands visit: www.emids.uktradeinvest.gov.uk

Or call our International Trade Centre Enquiry Team in Derby on: 0845 052 4001
www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk

ONE POINT OF CONTACT – ONE WORLD OF OPPORTUNITY

After five years of heading up the CBI, the UK’s top lobbying organisation for business, Digby, Lord Jones of Birmingham brings first-hand insight into business needs to his role.

During his appointment he took the British business message to 70 different countries. He met on a regular basis political, business and media figures in the United Kingdom and around the world.

After some time in the Royal Navy he joined Birmingham law firm Edge and Ellison in 1978, making partner in 1984, Deputy joint partner in 1990 and Senior Partner in 1998.

He was involved in most of the MTSO and MSA activity in the West Midlands in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

In 1998 Digby joined KPMG as vice chairman of Corporate Finance, acting as close adviser to many public companies across the United Kingdom and in KPMG’s global markets.

Digby is a Fellow of University College London (2004); an Honorary Fellow of Cardiff University (2004); and an Honorary Doctor of the University of Central England (2002), the University of Birmingham (2002), the University of Manchester, Institute of Science and Technology (2003), the University of Hertfordshire (2004), Middlesex University (2005), Sheffield Hallam University (2005), Aston University (2006), the University of Hull (2006), Queen’s University, Belfast (2006), Warwick University (2006), Bradford University (2006), Wolverhampton University (2006), Nottingham University and Loughborough University (2007).

He is President of the University College London Campaign, a visiting professor at the University of Hull Business School and Chairman of the Birmingham University Business School Advisory Board.

Digby is a Corporate Ambassador for the Cancer Research UK Corporate Ambassadors. He is also a Fellow of UNICEF.

He is President of the Diversity Works initiative - a programme led by the disability organisation Scope, a Diamond Ambassador for Mencap’s WorkRight initiative, designed to spread the message of equality for disabled people, a Vice-President of Birmingham Hospice, and a Patron of Lifecycle UK.

Digby is a non Executive Director of Leicester Tigers Rugby Club and Vice President of the Birmingham Civic Society, and a member of the Yorkshire Society, a Freeman of the City of London and a member of the Japan Society.

Link to web site:

General Enquiries

Call or email: +44 (0)20 7215 8000
enquiries@uktradeinvest.gov.uk